Getting blood out of clothes - advice please

[mumblecrumble]

Had MEGA nose bleed all over two of my favourite tops [i.e. they fit.....] and am very sad...

So far have soaked them in cold water..... now not sure what to do...

Mum gave suggestions but involve many chemicals that we dont own and don't want to use.

Tops are purple and black [did I mention they actually fit me.....am a big girl...] Not really delicate but do;t want to bobble with too much scrubbing.

Appreciate any suggestions

Salt!

Supposedly a strong ish solution of salt in cold water (soak for a few hours) might help.

What fabric are the tops?

It may be that they still look "stained" while they are wet, but the stain may not be noticeable so much when dry.

Do not tumble them dry, or iron over the stain.

ooooooh...... Put salt all over? Dry or in solution? Hot or cold?

soak in very salty cold water overnight.

p.s. don't scrub at the stains, it may set them.

If the above tips don't work try putting them in a prewash in your machine with bio powder/detergent.

Nice one.

Cheers.

They are my 'feel skinny' tops.... so pretty..... Stupid nose bleed. It exploded in Morrison;s carpark.... A bus driver swore at me....

Cold soaking in salt solution may not help after they have been cold soaked in water... it works by shrinking the blood cells so that they are easier to remove from the fabric.

Unfortunately cold soaking in water will have ruptured the cells (due to osmosis) and released the contents (haemoglobin) into the cloth, which frequently causes bad stains.

At this point I would suggest soaking in a luke warm biological powder solution in the hope that it can break down the haemoglobin and make it easier to wash out...

shampoo works wonders

Don't use warm or hot water, whatever you do. It will 'cook' the stain and set it in.

Luke warm water is fine, its water over 40 deg C that will cook it!

Cheers, was aware of cooking that's why I put it straght into cold water. WHo knew osmosis was so exciting. Stupid staining heamoglobin.

Have just looked at tops....they seem unscaithed.... Will soak, as advised, wash as normal tomorrow and cross my fingers.

Thanks